Now. Good evening. It was a jarring image, seeing the man who once personified family values on Television Walking past cameras to e eer court, facing criminal charges of Sexual Assault. The charges against bill cosby stem from one womans accusations involving an incident that allegedly took place more than a decade ago. More than 55 women have made accusations against the entertainer whose lawyers have repeatedly deniedal allegations. Cod by was arraigned today in pennsylvania and Stephanie Gosk begins our coverage ththe totoght. Reporter the speck acle felt out of place at a small courthouse in pennsylvania. Bill cosb once known as americas favorite dad, arrived to face multiple counts of Sexual Assault. The first time the 78yearold has ever been criminally charged. And saying nothing. He posed a 1 million bond and posed for a mug shot. He is charged with three felony charges of vafd indecent assault when former Temple University employee Andrea Constand went to his house to discuss her he urged her to take pills that he provided to her and to drink wine. The affect of which rendered her unable to move or respond to his advances and he committed david indecent assault upon her. Reporter bill cosby filed a crimimil complaint but the said there was not enough to charge. A year later she filed 13 more alleged victims. One of them, barbara bowman, spoke with kate snow. I cried when i found out there were 13 women. Were two. I thought there was one. Reporter the civil suit was settled out of cartourt. But since then allegations pile up. Now more than 50 women say they were abused too. Telling the same story. They were given drugs and assaulted. Cosby denies the allegation and his lawyer said make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law. But the flood of new accusations prompted a reinvestigation. Gloria allred represented 29 other victims whose cases fall out side of the statute of limitations. Seeing him criminally charged and having to face a trial is the best Christmas Present that they have ever received. Reporter bill cosby is back here at home tonight. The scene of the alleged crime. The victims lawyer tells nbc news that her client is gratified at the reaction she is it took this long for him to be chargege kate. Stephanan gosk in pennsysyania. Legal experts say some of his other accusers could be called as witnesses in this criminal case. In late august, i interviewed 29 of those women. 27 in one room for a dateline special. Andrea constand, the woman at the center of todays new criminal case was not among them. I was drugged and raped. He flipped me over and raped me. Their stories were harrowing. And what was most striking was how similar some of f e detatas were. It reaeay duped america, as far as im concerned. Reporter the accusations from these women span five decades, ranging from harassment to groping to rape. How many of you believe you were drugged by bill cosby . How many of you believe bill cosby raped you . Patricia stoyer and other women were ready to testify in the lawsuit ten years ago. Today she felt vindicated. I was willing in 2005 to testify on behalf of andrea if it was helpful to her case. I remain willing to do that. Reporter cosby has denied all allegations and filed suit against some of his accusers for defamation. His attorney has said, quote, it is completely illogical that so many people would have said nothing, done nothing and made no reports. When it happened to me, there was no such ing as like datee rape. Iiever even heard of somebody being drugged and raped. I didnt report my Sexual Assault because i blamed myself. This body of women are moving the needle. That is right. Not much. It. And that is the power we all feel. Reporter bill cosby is due back in Court January 14th. And again today his attorney said they intend to mount a the other big story tonight, deadly massive flooding in the midwest. Threatening to become a historic disaster. Nbc National CorrespondentMiguel Almaguer reports from eureka, missouri, where some have alady lost everything. Reporter the floodwaters in missouri have swept away homes and smashed apart lives. Tonight the water is rising across this region as fast as the death toll. At least 20 killed in cars washed away by swift currents. Neighbors are rescuing neighbors. Many trapped after swollen rivers burst their banks. We still need help. I mean, we really need help. Were saving my house right now. Reporter the situation is so fluid outside of st. Louis, it is unclear how many homes are gone. It rolls really quick. Reporter this man kayaked to safety. His home was swallowed by the merrimack river. Tonight he is packing up what is left and under the brink of going going under. We have a safe place. Now it is going to top the levee, they are thinking. Reporter with hundreds scrabbling to fill tens of thousands of of sandbags, the missouri governor said this could be the worst flooding in state history. In st. Louis, the Mighty Mississippi floods at 30 feet. Tonight it is brimming at 41. 5. Tomorrow it could crest at 43. 13 feet above flood stage. The highest mark since 1993, when 100,000 homes were destroyed. We are here before the water rises, were here after it falls. Were here until this place is back to where it was before. And sometimes that takes a while. Reporter this washout was triggered after several days of relentless rain. Part of i44 is shut down and dozens of levees are threat end as a flooded Treatment Plant spewed raw sewage into a fastmoving river. And now more mandatory evacuations in the rentals clearing out family heirlooms from home and business. Tonight they have each other but they may lose the place where five generations grew up together. You are still dry but worried. Were going to get wiped out this time. Reporter with many businesses already flooded, the damage could get worst over the next 24 to 48 hours. The water could rise 20 feet above flood stage. The camera you are looking at is roughly 20 feet i i the air. But to give you somee perspective of how much water were talking about, all of the businesses you see in this area on your screen right now would be completely submerged up to the roofline. Kate, back to you. Wow, unbelievable. Miguel almaguer, thank you. That massive flooding is part of the wild weather in recent weeks all linked to this seasons powerful el nino and now as joe fryer reports, nasa said it is looking a lot like one of the strongest and most devastating el ninos ever on recordrd reporter they are images that seem to defy december. Through missouri and deadly tornados tearing through the south. With unusually balmy weather blankets the northeast over christmas. All of it the result of an el nino weather system that keeps growing stronger. In fact, the newest satellite image released by nasa bears a strikele resemblance to the one in 1997, the worst el nino on record. This el nino in size and ininnsity, will definitely rival the previous t t champions. Which were 82 and 97. This is a godzilla el nino. Reporter that 97 system caused devastating floods in california, a crippling ice storm in the northeast and rare tornados in florida. Now this latest el nino promises a new round of weather havoc in 2016 with drought stricken california braced for rain and mudslides. Through january and the beginning o o february, well see the storminess out west and the cooler across the south and it should stay above average through the north. Reporter an el nino leaving destruction across the globe with the fears more devastating weather is still on the horizon. Joe fryerl nbc news, los angeles. As we head into new years, part of the country are on higher alert, from new york, to l. A. , to washington, d. C. A response to tears of of more terrorism after the recent attacks in San Bernardino and paris. Security will be unprecedented in times square for the celebration just a few blocks from where we are. We get more tonight from nbcsraig melvin. Reporter tonight, the ball is ready for the 1 million revelers who will pack into times square this new years eve. And joining them on high alert, 6,000 nypd officers and a newlycreated antiterror force. We have the best prepared city in the country. The best prepareddity to preveve terrorism and to deal with a a reporter the iconic new years eve will have multiple layers of security. 14 entrances with magnetometers will barricade and secured by police with long guns to guard against intruders. Once inside, you face secondary screening and wont be allowed to leave and return. We have more personnel that have been trained on how to deal with the issues. Reporter adding to the Law Enforcement presence, 1,000 security cameras, radiation detectors anan bombsniffing dogs. Today nbc news was given access inside of the nypd joint operations center. We do make analysis of what the terrorists have looked at in the past and we strategically deploy our officers to areas where there will be large crowds. Reporter across the country, other highprofile events including the rose bowl are under tight security. Keeping Law Enforcement on heightened alert despite no specific people should always be aware, always be alert but not be fearful, not be afraid. They are trying to if we allow that to happen, we are falling into their trap. Reporter because of the unseasonably warm temperatures, event organizers here in times square say they expect a larger crowd than usual but insist theyll be ready. Kate. Craig melvin in time square tonight. Thanks. Overseas, the threat appears to be more immediate withh evidence of at t ast two terroriri attacks being planned. One in europe, one in turkey, resulting in a number of arrests there. It is not surprising that some new years celebrations then are being scaled back. Nbcs bill neely has our report. Reporter across europe, police are on high alert. In belgium, two men have been arrested for planning suicide attacks in this historic square. Due to be filled with new year crowds. Authorities canceling fireworks, citing a terrorist threat. In turkey, more arrests. After a suicide vest and a backpack filled with explosives were house in the capital. Two men suspected of planning a new year massacre. And in paris, authorities are scaling down celebrations, canceling fireworks, fearing a repeat of novembers attacks. In london, too, security is tight. Police in london have considered a terror attack highly likely for the pastt year. But based on new intelligce, they have now doubled the number of Police Officers on these streets. The threat is real. This british couple was jailed for life today for planning suicide attacks in the london. They tested explosives in their backyard. They were isis supporters. Radicalized like the couple in San Bernardino who carried out their attack. Europe tonight is a continent on edge. Bill neely, nbc news, london. A a Chicago Police patrol cars will now be equipped with tasers following outrage over several Deadly Police shootings there. Manuel announced the change as part of his plan to overhall the city police force. He is under fire for his handling of the Department Says officers need more training on when it is proper to use lethal force. We turn to politics nowment and with donald trump leading the republicans, the real battle is in the rest of the field. Among those trying to stay relevant. For his part, trump intensified the war of words today with hillary clinton. Hallie jackson is on the campaign trail. Reporter december drama for jeb bush. In a surprise move, emptying his miami headquarters to send staffers to early states and canceling 3 million worth of ad time to pump that money into getting out the vote. His superpac will still keep him all over tv in hopes the new strategy proves bush could be the partys traditional pick. At some point someone will have to be the standard bearer for the establishment wing of the party and they dont have any where the fiercest fight is happening, for third place. Behind donald trump and ted cruz, the establishment candidates firing at each other. If they think this is tough, we are nowhere close to tough yet. Reporter but trump is still dominating the polls an the crowd count, today this long trump line treated inside to this trump line. Illlell you who doesn like hillary, are women. Women dont like hillary. Reporter trump amping up attacks against his former wedding guests, both clintons. She is going to accuse me of things. Reporter and he is announcing plans to spend 2 million a week on ads. Im ready to see him all over my tv. All over my tv and im ready to see him in the oval office. Reporter the 2016 battle just beginning. Hallie jackson, nbc news, hiltonhead. Still ahead tonight, carrying guns out in the open. It is about to be legal in one state for the first time. But many businesses there say if you are armed, stay out. Boy who gave a final salute to his hero so i drink boost to get the nutrition that im missing. Boost complete nutritional drink has 26 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium and vitamin d to support strong bones and 10 grams of proteinto help maintain muscle. All with a great taste. I dont plan on slowing down any time soon. Ive smoked a lot and quit a lot, but ended up nowhere. Now i use this. The nicoderm cq patch, release technology, helps prevent the urge to smoke all day. I want this time to be my last time. 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You have a chance to draw faster and be able to defend faster. Reporter nearly 1 million texans also have a concealed handgun permit. Under the new law, no additional paperwork, training or fee is required for them. A concealed carry permit now doubles as an open carry permit. It brings us in line with just about every other state. Reporter representative Larry Phillips offered the new law. They have to be over 21. They also have to have a clean criminal a a Mental Health record. Reporter many texans say it is about time. While others, including nearly 75 of texas police chiefs, strongly disagree, according to a new survey. Some businesses are also choosing to ban open carry. Sign maker shops scrambling to keep up with the demand. Warnings to open carriers, keep out. Another new texas gun law nicknamed campus carry, allowed concncled h hdguns on university campuses, taking affect next august. Do we want it to be a culture where we think the way to solve things is with a gun . 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We know a thing or two because weve seen a thing or two. Some are calling h h a hero. The sherriffs depututwho helped two women after they jumped from a burning building. Keeping drunk drivers off the road. A look at what it takes to actually get arrested when driving under the influence. And. Some siouxland kids see if they have what it takes to be a ninja warrio finally tonight, an emotional tribute to a man who was a hero on the streets of new york and on the battlefields of afghanistan and to his family. Harry smith has the story of one final salute. Reporter the streets of midtown manhattan came to a standstill today. For the funeral of new York Police Detective joseph lemm. Along fifth avenue near st. Patricks cathedral, a sea of blue stood in silent tribute for a cop his colleagues called superman. He was on patrol with five other americans in afghanistan when they were attacked by a suicide bomberr in t was lemms third deployment to afghanistan with the air national guard. Yes, he was a cop and a reservist. For whom duty meant everything. Two years ago, local news cameras were there when he surprised his family at a restaurant coming home early after his second long deployment. Lemm was a big country kid from nebraska who thrived as a cop in some of the roughest sections of the bronx. His little boy ryan idololed him and high on the shoulders of a new York City Police officer today, the 4yearold saluted his pop. During the funeral, Police Commissioner bill bratton said this. Today we say farewell to a hero and a hereby for all ages. A patriot who centered his life on protecting others. Reporter and that sure sounds like superman to us. Harry smith, nbc news, new york. And that is nightly news on this wednesday night. Im kate snow. News, thank you for watching. Have a great night. Joining us. Im sheila brummer. Matt bre has the night off. Tonight, were learning new details about a Daring Rescue during an apartment fe in sloan, ia. One of the first things Todd Peterson with the Woodbury CountySheriffs Office saw on scene was a woman dangling upside from that window prepared to jump to escape the flames. Peterson says it happened in a matter of seconds but thats not how it felt in the moment. He says he just reacted as best he could to the situation. At some point a sizable portion of the second floor crumbled, though its unclear if the women were still inside. One woman had already jumped from the window before peterson was on scene but catch the second